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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz have waived shooting guard Matt Thomas as the team continues to clear the books for the start of free agency on Monday.
Thomas, who the Jazz obtained at the trade deadline last season, was set to be owed $1.7 million this season. His contract was set to be guaranteed next week.
The move not only gets the Jazz a little more under the luxury tax threshold — a line they will surely cross if the team re-signs free agent point guard Mike Conley — but also clears up a roster spot for a potentially more productive player.
Thomas, who had shot 45.7% from 3-point territory over the course of three seasons with the Toronto Raptors, appeared in 19 games for the Jazz and shot just 25.6% (10 for 39) from deep. Without his shooting, he was simply unplayable.
It's yet another sign that last year's additions to the team were mostly a bust. The Jazz spent a second round pick for a half-season of Thomas, drafted a center that wasn't expected to play, and the Jazz just used a future first-round pick in order to get out of Derrick Favors' $9.7 million salary after he signed a new deal with the Jazz in November.
